Page 31 of This: Blake & Emon

“I wasn’t ready to talk about it,” Taylor admitted. “Y’all know how my parents are about divorce. I was trying to handle it quietly because they didn’t know either.”

“Girl, fuck some quiet. We your girls.” Paige reached for Taylor’s hand. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that alone.”

“That’s what I told her, and she wasn’t alone,” Blake said softly, immediately regretting it when Paige’s eyes narrowed.

“What else y’all not telling me?”

“Blake, I told you it’s not like that between me and Brooks,” Taylor said, possibly trying to convince herself. Blake tossed her hands up in surrender. She was going to ask her brother what was up. She’d be able to see clearly through the bullshit with him. He wouldn’t be able to lie to her.

“Brooks? Our Brooks?” Paige fussed, looking between them. “How do you know?”

“Our church girl slipped up and told her own tea tryna spill mine to Brooks. That’s how I know.”

“Y’all so damn dramatic, but yes, me and Brooks have spent a little time together over about four months. It’s not serious.”

Taylor had to keep saying it because that was her best way of keeping it that way.

“Well, what is it? Because I keep hearing what it ain’t, but ain’t heard yet what it is,” Blake said, causing the table to erupt in laughter. Blake didn’t find anything funny. She was tired of it. They were best friends and like family. Whatever Taylor was doing with her brother was just that. Blake wouldn’t come between it or judge it.

“Tyree was on his way to pick me up and got a DUI. I got stranded and needed a ride and a tow. I called Brooks. Instead of just sending a tow truck, he picked me up and made sure I got home safely. No charge.”

“I know that’s right, big brother.”

“It was around that time I decided I’d had enough. I wanted to pay Brooks back, so I tried and he turned me down. He’s been checking on me since.” Blake knew where this was headed. She laughed at herself becausethiswas definitelythat.Taylor could play games all she wanted. Blake knew her brother was coming to apply pressure.Brooks didn’t move like that for just anyone.

“Ok, Brooks,” Paige said. “Well, I’m glad I know now. You good though? Can I do anything for you?”

“Yeah, slowly but surely. It hasn’t been easy going through a divorce, but it is what it is. I’m just working, journaling, working out. I’m figuring out what and who I am now. It’s a process.”

Blake grabbed her friend’s hand and squeezed. She was glad they’d got to spend some time together today, and they needed to do it more often. Outside of just the gym. Taylor worked at the hospital but in administration, so sometimes their shifts didn’t line up. With her in a whirlwind romance, time just had been slipping.

“We gotta do this more often. We’ve been slacking,” Paige said, reading Blake’s mind.

“Agreed. Ok, calendars out. Let’s see when we can link before we forget.” The girls chatted a bit and checked their schedules. Once they settled on something, they finished eating and enjoying each other’s company.

Blake’s thoughts floated to Emon and the question she hadn’t answered. A part of her wanted to move in with him. That was the next natural phase of this, but what if it changed things and not for good? She didn’t want to be a live in girlfriend for too long. She desired marriage. She was tripping because he’d already made it clear that he’d found his wife.

“Blake, what’s got you in a trance?”

“Emon asked me to move in with him, but I don’t know.”

“Girl, please,” they both said. Blake rolled her eyes at them and stirred her drink, trying not to smile.

“I just don’t want to rush anything.”

“Sis, respectfully, y’all past that, and that’s ok. Sometimes when you know, you just know. You love him?” Paige asked.

“I do.”

“Well, what else is there to know? You going to meet his mom tomorrow, right?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah, I’m a little nervous. What if he’s a mama’s boy?”

“Emon a mama’s boy? Friend, don’t piss me off. He’s the furthest thing from a mama’s boy.”

“Right, because you just saying shit now. How about you wait until after the cookout? See how he interacts with his family and go from there. Don’t make any decisions until you have a fully formed picture,” Paige offered.

Blake nodded, knowing it was solid advice. With her mind settled, she decided she’d give him an answer by Monday. No need to keep him waiting too long when her heart had already made the choice, even if her mind was still trying to protect her from this fairytale turning into a nightmare. But maybe that was the problem… she was still waiting for something to go wrong when everything aboutthishad been right.

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